“It just works out that way sometimes,’’ Smith said with a smile. “All the players we have had from Nashville, we love having them. They are smart guys and realize and understand how important football is. I don’t know the reason why, but that is a stop we’ll make every year, I promise you that.’’

Vanderbilt has two players at this NFL Combine – tackle Thomas Welch and cornerback Myron Lewis.

There’s plenty of interest in the Chicago Bears in the Nashville area, largely because quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver Earl Bennett are among the former Vanderbilt players on the roster. From the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, updates on Cutler and Bennett can be seen here and here and here. And there’s an AP slideshow here.